In Matthew 5, Jesus raised the standard of life far above what the law required. He showed that sin is not only found in outward actions but also in the heart. Murder is tied to anger, and adultery is tied to lust. Both temper and lust trouble us constantly, and both expose our inability to live righteously apart from Him. As Witness Lee points out, we cannot escape these struggles through our own effort. If we were stone, untouched by human weakness, perhaps we would not be bothered. But as living people, our temper flares and our desires stir. These weaknesses are too strong to be mastered by self-discipline alone.

In today’s reading, we are reminded that our union with Jesus is not a matter of our building but of our believing. Psalm 118 points to the stone that the builders rejected, which became the cornerstone. Jesus is that cornerstone, and by faith, not works, we are added as living stones, forming a spiritual house. The Holy Spirit joins us to Him, rooting and grounding us in His life.

E. Stanley Jones reminds us that truth is not abstract, nor is it found in wandering speculation. Truth is embodied in Jesus, and to know Him is to know reality. Paul’s words in Ephesians 4:20-21 tell us that the truth is not merely about Christ but is found in Him. This is the safeguard that keeps us from drifting into strange teachings or empty detours. When we center our lives in Jesus, the truth is alive, personal, and transformative.

T. Austin-Sparks reminds us that there is only one place where life, direction, and fruitfulness are found: in Jesus. He has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world, and everything we need is contained in Him. The forces of darkness work tirelessly to keep people away from Jesus, or once they have come, to draw them off that ground onto distractions, substitutes, or seemingly harmless alternatives. But the word of the Lord stands clear and strong: remain in Me, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Ray Stedman reflects on the sobering reality of consequences. God told Israel, “I have done these things to you,” making it clear that He takes full responsibility for the unfolding of their history. Their pain was not random or meaningless but tied to their sin. Stedman reminds us that this is not only Israel’s story, but ours as well. We are not spectators to an ancient tale. The principle of sowing and reaping runs through all of life.

Bob Hoekstra points us today to one of the sweetest promises of God’s faithfulness. Philippians 1:6 assures us that the One who began a good work in us will bring it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. This promise is more than comfort; it is the very foundation of our confidence as believers. The work of salvation is not left unfinished. What God has begun, He Himself will see through to the end.

Today’s devotional reminds me of the scene in 2 Chronicles 20 where King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were faced with an overwhelming army. God’s word to them was clear and reassuring: the battle did not belong to them, but to Him. A.B. Simpson gently guides us to see that the same truth applies in our lives today. When we assume responsibility for the dangers and burdens we face, fear and discouragement quickly overtake us. But when we recognize that we belong to God, we rest in the fact that He takes full responsibility for His people.

Oswald Chambers invites us to consider the completeness that comes from resting in Jesus. He reminds us that when anything begins to disturb our union with Him, we should immediately turn to the Lord and receive His rest. Too often, we allow disquiet to remain in our hearts, treating it as something to endure rather than something to surrender. Chambers points us back to the promise of Jesus: “Come to me, and I will give you rest.”

Miles Stanford brings us to a vital truth: love alone, as precious as it is, cannot sustain the believer’s walk or service. Love may move us, but it does not equip us to overcome sin, nor does it empower us to live victoriously. What carries us through is not the love motive but the life motive. Paul wrote in Romans 8:2 that the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. This is not about trying harder or clinging to the law but about receiving life itself, the very life of the risen Lord expressed in us.

In today’s devotional, Witness Lee points us to the deep truth that Jesus is the reality behind all the Old Testament shadows. The sacrifices, feasts, and Sabbath were never ends in themselves. They were signposts pointing to something greater. Sacrifices foreshadowed the once-for-all offering of Jesus’ body on the cross. The Sabbath pictured the true rest we now enjoy in Him. The feasts looked forward to the satisfaction and joy of fellowship with God that is ours in union with His Son.

Today’s reading reflects on Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:13, where faith, hope, and love remain, but love is called the greatest. Nick Harrison reminds us that the day will come when mysteries are resolved, when faith gives way to sight and hope merges with fulfillment. In that moment, every promise we have leaned on will be fully realized in the presence of God. Until then, faith and hope are our daily guides, steadying us with light along the way.

E. Stanley Jones points us to a beautiful truth about the difference between affirmation and testimony. Affirmation can say “that” is true, but testimony says “this” is real in me. Affirmation acknowledges that Jesus lived in history, but testimony declares that the Jesus of history is alive in me today. Christianity does not stop at affirming facts about Jesus, it becomes the living testimony of His presence within.

In today’s devotional, T. Austin-Sparks leads us into a crucial distinction between what people often call “Christian service” and what is in fact genuine service to the Lord. So much of what we label service is simply activity: meetings, speaking, organizing, and endless busyness. Yet Sparks shows us that real service is something deeper, quieter, and more transformative. It is about the emancipation of people from the grip of this world into a life yielded to Jesus, and their formation into His likeness for a heavenly vocation now, not merely later.

Ray Stedman reminds us today of the great confusion that often surrounds us. Just as the exiles in Babylon were faced with conflicting voices and rival factions, we too live in a world full of competing claims to truth. Some voices appeal to spirituality without substance, others to secular logic that denies God altogether, and still others claim authority in His name but lack His commission. In such an environment, uncertainty can weigh heavily on our souls.

Bob Hoekstra brings us to one of the Lord’s “unpopular” promises, one that cuts against the grain of both the world and often even the church world. Jesus declared, “Whoever exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” To a culture that prizes self-assertion, self-promotion, and confidence in one’s own strength, this promise sounds upside-down. Yet, it is a truth repeated throughout Scripture, woven into the fabric of God’s kingdom.

A.B. Simpson reminds us that the truest way to glorify God is not by showcasing our own strength, but by letting His life shine through us. Just as sunlight finds expression through a clear window or reflects from a spotless mirror, so the life of Jesus radiates when we yield to Him. His glory is not something we generate, but something He reveals through vessels that are available and trusting.

Oswald Chambers draws us to the words of Jesus, “Come to me, and I will give you rest.” Rest in Him is not simply relief from weariness, but the very mark of a life that has found its completeness in union with Christ. Chambers warns against allowing dis-peace to linger. He urges us to bring disturbances immediately to the Lord so that His rest may be established in our hearts. Jesus Himself is the one who settles us, making our lives steady and whole.

Miles Stanford reminds us today of a truth that reshapes how we live on earth. Many believers, he writes, are content with the assurance that one day they will go to heaven when they die. Yet the mature believer learns to rest in the fact that in Jesus, they are already there. Scripture declares that God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly places. This is not simply a future hope, but a present reality.

Witness Lee reminds us that God’s acceptance of us today is not based on the law, but on faith in Jesus. In Old Testament times, acceptance before God meant living up to the standard of the law, but no one could fully meet that measure. Now, through Jesus, we are justified not by works but by faith. This truth frees us from striving to earn God’s favor and brings us into the security of His acceptance in Christ.

In today’s reflection compiled by Nick Harrison, Isaiah’s vision of the Lord leads to his famous response: “Here am I. Send me!” This moment captures what it means to live surrendered to God. A surrendered life is not passive but profoundly available. John MacBeath reminds us that history shows God delights to use those who lay their lives down before Him, whether their role appears great or small. Surrender is not measured by prominence but by faithfulness. Whether running a hospital, washing a floor, or simply being present in the place God appoints, He values surrendered availability more than outward impressiveness.